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Orange County · Building on your lot

Group homes and residential care in Orange County

Orange County's own rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Orange County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Orange County's code says

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Parking
  • All garage and driveway spaces for the dwelling unit must be available for vehicle parking.
    Applies: Applies to group homes for disabled residents that provide no care and supervision.
    § 7-9-95.6 · code text
    All garage and driveway spaces associated with the dwelling unit shall, at all times, be available for the parking of vehicles.
  • Residents and the house manager may each store or park only one vehicle.
    Applies: Applies to group homes for disabled residents with no care and supervision; at the dwelling unit or on any street within 300 feet.
    § 7-9-95.6 · code text
    Residents and the house manager may each only store or park a single vehicle at the dwelling unit or on any street within three hundred (300) feet of the dwelling unit.
Homes for 6 or fewer
  • A Group Home Permit is required.
    Applies: Applies to such group homes in a single-family district: 6 or fewer residents, not counting a house manager, never more than 7 in all.
    § 7-9-95.6 · code text
    If the group home is located in a single-family residential district, the group home shall have six (6) or fewer residents, not counting a house manager, but in no event shall have more than seven (7) residents.
Where allowed
  • Allowed in any district, planned community or specific plan area zoned for residential districts, with a Group Home Permit.
    Applies: Applies to group homes for disabled residents that provide no care and supervision.
    § 7-9-95.6 · code text
    A group home that may otherwise be considered an unpermitted use shall be permitted in any district, planned community, or specific plan area zoned for residential districts with a Group Home Permit provided:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Orange County?

Orange County's code: All garage and driveway spaces for the dwelling unit must be available for vehicle parking. (Applies to group homes for disabled residents that provide no care and supervision.) (§ 7-9-95.6); Residents and the house manager may each store or park only one vehicle. (Applies to group homes for disabled residents with no care and supervision; at the dwelling unit or on any street within 300 feet.) (§ 7-9-95.6).

General information, not legal advice.

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Orange County Municipal Code — full text